Emperor Shizu of Qi, Gao Zhan: The Licentiousness and Decline of Northern Qi's Emperor Wucheng

Brief Introduction

Emperor Shizu of Qi, namely the third emperor of Northern Qi, Gao Zhan (537–568), held the temple name Shizu and the posthumous name Emperor Wucheng, historically known as Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi. He was the younger brother of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi, Gao Yang. His reign (561–565) is known as a turning point in Northern Qi's political landscape. After ascending the throne, Gao Zhan indulged in pleasure and favored treacherous officials. Although his reign was short, his actions accelerated the corruption and decline of the Northern Qi regime. In his later years, he abdicated in favor of his son, Gao Wei, becoming the Retired Emperor, yet he continued to interfere in politics until his death.

Core Knowledge Points

Temple and Posthumous Names: Gao Zhan's temple name was Shizu, and his posthumous name was Wucheng. Though often referred to as Emperor Wucheng, historical texts like Zizhi Tongjian* also refer to him by his temple name in their narratives.
* Ruling Style: During his reign, Gao Zhan engaged in large-scale construction, building pleasure grounds such as the Lan Chi Palace. He favored sycophants like He Shikai, leading to chaotic court politics, relaxed laws, and rampant extravagance among the nobility.
* Abdication and Interference: In 565, due to health issues, Gao Zhan abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Gao Wei (Emperor Houzhu), becoming the Retired Emperor. However, he did not truly retire; he retained control over court politics, even interfering in family matters like selecting an empress, causing power conflicts between father and son.
* Historical Evaluation: Gao Zhan is seen as a key figure in Northern Qi's transition from prosperity to decline. His licentious personal life directly influenced the political climate of Northern Qi, laying the groundwork for its eventual destruction by Northern Zhou.

Connection with Zizhi Tongjian

In Sima Guang's compiled Zizhi Tongjian, Gao Zhan's deeds are placed within the macro-narrative of Northern Qi's decline.

1. Moral Critique: Zizhi Tongjian emphasizes Gao Zhan's licentious behavior, such as rumors of "entertaining multiple sisters at night." Sima Guang uses this to illustrate the historical view that "the rise and fall of a nation depends on virtue." Through Gao Zhan's case, the book warns that rulers indulging in private desires will inevitably lead to national turmoil.
2. Powerful Ministers' Tyranny: The book details Gao Zhan's favoritism towards He Shikai. He Shikai took the opportunity to sell official posts, causing public resentment to boil over. Zizhi Tongjian uses this to analyze the intensification of internal contradictions within the Northern Qi regime, pointing out that this was a major reason for losing the people's support and eventual destruction.
3. Abdication Turmoil: Zizhi Tongjian records details of Gao Zhan continuing to interfere in politics as Retired Emperor after abdicating. This incomplete transfer of power led to even greater political chaos during Gao Wei's reign, reflecting Sima Guang's emphasis on the order of "ruler-minister and father-son" relationships.

Conclusion

The life of Emperor Shizu of Qi, Gao Zhan, is a microcosm of the Northern Qi dynasty's transition from prosperity to decline. In Zizhi Tongjian, he is not only a specific historical figure but also a typical representative used by Sima Guang to illustrate the negative example of "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." Understanding Gao Zhan helps in deeply comprehending the complexity and fragility of the political ecology in the late Northern Dynasties period.

#NorthernQi #GaoZhan #ZizhiTongjian #HistoryPopularization #RetiredEmperor